Our arthritis
Our arthritis
Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States, limiting the activities of nearly 21 million adults, according to the CDC. Those with arthritis, though, don’t have to be slaves to their genetics or gym injuries; there are several natural arthritis remedies to help heal joint pain and inflammation.
Arthritis is a general term encompassing conditions that share joint pain and inflammation. Typical treatment involves pain-reducing medication. While there is no definitive arthritis diet, research suggests including anti-inflammatory foods in your diet and limiting foods that may trigger joint pain.
Chocolate's superfood cred just got a whole lot stronger:
The benefits of chocolate, say experts, may start in your gut. When you swallow that sweet bite of chocolatey goodness, the good microbes in your stomach essentially feast on the chocolate, letting them grow and ferment which then produces anti-inflammatory compounds. When these antioxidant compounds are absorbed, they were found to calm inflammation throughout the body--especially in cardiovascular tissue, which may reduce the long-term risk of stroke, according to research presented yesterday at the National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic, painful, inflammatory disease that affects joints and connective tissue, are constantly seeking to ease its symptoms with food and dietary supplements. While researchers have turned up no magic elixir to cure RA, several studies seem to show a connection between certain foods and the inflammation that characterizes this autoimmune condition. Before embarking on a special diet or taking supplements, though, consult your doctor. Either approach can interact with traditional RA medications in unintended ways.
The latest diet craze is nothing like the usual offerings. You don't have to count calories or even cut your food intake drastically. There's also no promise of instant weight loss, though you probably will become more trim.
What this diet will do is help prevent illnesses such as heart disease, Alzheimer's and possibly cancer, and significantly ease the pain of chronic conditions such as arthritis.
The 'anti-inflammatory' diet is based on the principle that many health problems are linked to chronic inflammation caused by an over-active immune system.
Those who have jumped on the bandwagon include Barry Sears, creator of the Zone diet, and dermatologist Dr Nicholas Perricone (the Perricone diet).
But what sets this latest trend apart from other dietary fads is the growing number of medical experts who agree there might be much to gain from it.
The idea that chronic inflammation can lead to ill health is well established. It occurs when the immune system begins attacking the body - it's not clear why this happens, but, as a result, the body tissues are damaged. In turn, they release chemicals that cause inflammation.
Because this initially causes no pain, people often don't realise they're suffering from chronic and 'silent' inflammation until years later - when the symptoms of arthritis or other conditions emerge.
Chia seeds have a lot in common with flax. Both have a nutty flavor and are great in baked goods, green smoothies, oatmeal, and more. Chia gets a lot of hype as a superfood – and with good reason! But what makes chia so healthy, and how can you get more chia into your diet?
Chia seeds have even more omega-3 fatty acids than flax meal, and like flax they’re rich in fiber and micronutrients. Unlike flax, though, you don’t need to grind chia seeds to get their nutritional value. Your body can digest whole chia seeds, which means that chia has a longer shelf life, since you can buy the whole seed rather than the ground meal. One ounce of chia seeds (about two tablespoons) contains over 40 percent of the RDA for fiber and 18 percent of your daily calcium needs. This low-glycemic, anti-inflammatory food is a nutritional powerhouse, and it’s delicious to boot!
